Screen shot from David Bowie’s “I’m Afraid of Americans” video.
David Bowie died on January 10, 2016. Bowie was known as a groundbreaking innovator who was constantly reinventing himself. Bowie wasn’t specifically known for his protest music, but he did possess a social conscience and much of his music was shaped by whatever the current political climate happened to be at the time. For example, Bowie’s entire 1974 album Diamond Dogs was based on George Orwell’s “1984” and fittingly the album was released during Nixon and Watergate.
“I’m Afraid of Americans” is from Bowie’s 1997 album, Earthling. The more well-known single version was remixed by Nine Inch Nails, who were touring partners with Bowie. In the press release announcing Earthling, Bowie made the following statement about the tune: “I was traveling in Java when the first McDonald’s went up: it was like, ‘for fuck’s sake.’ The invasion by any homogenized culture is so depressing. It strangles the indigenous culture and narrows expression of life.”
The video added poignant visuals to the song’s lyrics. Nine Inch Nail’s Trent Reznor plays the role of an American named Johnny. Johnny menacingly follows Bowie around brandishing an imaginary weapon.
The sentiments of being afraid of Americans also takes on greater prevalence in light of Trump’s America. The USA is a major world player and nuclear power. They are also unstable and their implementation of foreign policy has major implications on the world scene. Like many classic protest tunes, “I’m Afraid of Americans” starts to take on prophetic significance with the ongoing passage of time.